ABSTRACT
Chapter 6 discusses technological aspects and potential applications of tensegrity lattices in civil engineering, both in a material and non-material scale. Tensegrity systems can be constructed using various techniques, which mainly depend on the applied scale. In a material scale (metamaterials), most fabrication techniques are based on additive manufacturing methods. In bigger scales (metastructures), standard engineering solutions may be applied, such as commonly available rods and cables. Tensegrity lattices with extremal mechanical properties have a wide range of potential applications in civil engineering, which they owe to their unique physical and mechanical properties, such as: high strength-to-weight ratio, tunability, high failure resistance, structural smartness, and extremal modes of deformation. Tensegrity-based metamaterials are aimed mainly at various dynamic applications, namely acoustic, vibration, and shock energy damping systems. Tensegrity metastructures with extremal mechanical properties have not been applied in civil engineering so far, as this is a novel concept proposed in this book. However, they could be applied for example as medium- and macro-scale vibration damping elements, lightweight reinforcing systems, adaptive and deployable lattices structures.
